The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has called for the withdrawal of MeitY’s advisory dated 10 October 2026 to Meta Platforms, which raises serious concerns about restrictions on protest-related reporting on Instagram and Facebook.
The advisory reportedly asks Meta to review its content-ranking and recommendation mechanisms to prevent disproportionate exposure to particular narratives. Its timing, coinciding with protests and restrictions on journalists’ and media organisations’ social media accounts, raises concerns about potential censorship and the suppression of legitimate public-interest reporting.
Government action affecting online expression must have a clear legal basis, follow due process, and be open to public scrutiny. Executive advisories should not become instruments for controlling the narratives citizens can access, particularly during public protests.
IFF has demanded that MeitY withdraw and publish its advisories, and that Meta disclose restrictions imposed in response to them, restoring affected accounts and content where no valid legal order exists.
Naavi.org will continue to examine developments at the intersection of digital rights, intermediary accountability and India’s evolving technology law framework.
However we urge media to remember that security of the nation is paramount and anybody who assists the current agitation meant for “regime Change through Violence and Non democratic means” is assisting the people who want to adversly affect the national Security. Hence such reports donot get protection under the Indian Constitution.
Whether the advisory comes from the Home Ministry or from MeitY, it is necessary and we support the same.
We believe that “Freedom” is a “Responsibility” and what we are now seeing on the Delhi streets represent an irresponsible and immature movement which is undemocratic. I request that organizations like IFF kind of organizations should show maturity on when to support opposition to Government and when not to. There is a space between supporting the Government and Urban Naxals which can be neutral and issue based opposition. Educated professionals in the society should try to occupy such neutral position and not lean towards the anarchic tendencies of a few.
Naavi
